Father Michael McGivney

After years of hard work and prayer, it was announced on May 27, 2020, that a miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God, Michael McGivney, a priest of the Archdiocese of Hartford and Founder of the Knights of Columbus, was officially approved by Pope Francis. This approval opened the door for the beatification of Fr. McGivney, a major step on the path to canonization and sainthood.

Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1852, Michael Joseph McGivney was the eldest of thirteen children raised in a poor, working-class Catholic family. From a young age he was asked to help in supporting his brothers and sisters, stepping into the hard labor of the city’s brass mills. At the age of 16, the strong faith that he had known throughout his childhood led him to the seminary, and in 1877, he was ordained as a priest of the Diocese of Hartford. He would be assigned to Saint Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut, where his understanding of the difficulties of the poor and his desire to help all people, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, led him to assist the underserved of his parish and to found the Knights of Columbus. This charitable instinct would guide Fr. McGivney throughout his time in New Haven and continue when he was named the Pastor of Saint Thomas Church in Thomaston, Connecticut, in 1884. Following six years of ministry in Thomaston, he would die of pneumonia at the young age of 38, caused by the global pandemic of that time.

Known for his pastoral zeal and tireless work ethic, Fr. McGivney would be beloved both during and after his death, leading to a growing devotion from members of the Knights of Columbus, people of the Archdiocese of Hartford, and many others. This devotion assisted greatly in the push toward recognition of Fr. McGivney’s saintly life, and through the official channels of the Catholic Church, a miracle was recognized and the call for him to be named among the “Blessed” approved. This will take place during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and Rite of Beatification on October 31, 2020, an event that will be broadcast around the world.

Father McGivney: Priest of Connecticut

We are proud to offer this documentary series, ‘McGivney: Priest of Connecticut’. The series features visits to significant places of Fr. McGivney’s life and ministry, as well as all-new interviews with bishops, priests, and scholars.

Father McGivney – Impacting Our Faith

We’ve been catching up with many of our priests and laypeople alike to get a sense of how Fr. McGivney’s upcoming beatification is impacting the faith lives of those in Connecticut and beyond. We share with you our Facebook posts from the Month of McGivney.